THE route has been shortened, the area will be well lit and it will bring all spectators together to help recreate the party atmosphere that typifies a true Mount Isa mardi gras.
Following months of consultation Mount Isa Rotary Rodeo Inc (MIRRI) has released its new plan for mardi gras that is certain to address the much talked about concerns of the community.
Starting at the Simpson Street entry to Buchanan Park, the parade will travel through the car park which will have been transformed into a street party complete with family entertainment, community stall holders, food, drink and plenty of room for mingling.
Travelling just 700 metres, instead of the kilometre distance of previous years, the parade will then exit the car park and finish around the bend on the Mullan and George Street intersection.
MIRRI chairman Greg Breen said he was confident the new route provided the atmosphere that had been lacking.
"We wanted to bring back a responsible party atmosphere combined with great family-style entertainment," he said.
"90 per cent of the mardi gras atmosphere is having everyone in the one place and we believe that this new approach has that. The noise from all the crowd cheering as the parade passes through will be like an NRL grand final as everyone will be a part of the action.
"We will also be making an application to get a licensed area within the Buchanan Park carpark to give people wishing to do so the opportunity to have a drink."
Mr Breen said parking had also been taken into account with the centre of the racetrack opened up to allow people to be within walking distance of the parade route.
Post mardi gras the car park will be alive with free entertainment and community stall holders while sideshow alley will also be open.
Organisers have also applied for funding to add a cultural artistic element to the mardi gras celebrations that is sure to be enjoyed by all ages.
There will also be the option for people to head inside the ticketed arena for the regular Friday night rodeo action and live bands if they choose, Mr Breen said.
Rodeo manager Tricia Esdaile acknowledged the event could not be "all things to all people" but said the committee had taken into consideration the fond memories of earlier years and looked for a practical option to recreate this.
She said a lot had changed since mardi gras travelled along Isa, West and Miles streets and Rodeo Drive, which meant a CBD mardi gras was no longer a viable option.
"More than $6 million has been spent on a CBD upgrade since then, we've got increased traffic on our main roads with mining companies operating 24-hours a day, there have been changes to liquor licensing and with public liability we're also responsible for people's actions as a part of our event," she said.
"The expectation for security if the mardi gras were to be in the CBD would also be a substantial cost due to public safety issues. We're a community organisation and we'd potentially be looking at about $50,000 in costs to even attempt a mardi gras in the CBD."
Mr Breen said relocating the mardi gras to the CBD would also be detrimental to the reputation of the Isa Rodeo.
"In the days when mardi gras was in the CBD we didn't have a Friday night rodeo but now we've worked our way up to achieving the status of having the largest rodeo in the southern hemisphere," he said.
"This rodeo has a $2.4million economic impact for Mount Isa and we'd be putting the entire event at risk if we were to cancel the Friday night rodeo."
The new route has been endorsed by the Mount Isa Chamber of Commerce along with other stakeholder organisations.
MIRRI is now calling on the community to show its support for the new route.
"We need the community's support and we need the community to come out and demonstrate what a great city we are, what spirit we have and that we are proud to be Mount Isans," Ms Esdaile said.
"We believe the Buchanan Park car park will be the new West Street in terms of mardi gras celebrations and we want everyone to be a part of it."
She said organisers also welcomed the input of any community members wanting to be involved in helping theme this year's mardi gras.
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